Unsaturated alicyclic ethers

ABSTRACT

New compounds of formula ##STR1## wherein symbol R represents a lower alkyl radical and use thereof as perfuming and flavoring ingredients. Process for the preparation of the said compounds.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to the fields of perfumery and of the flavor industry, in particular it relates to unsaturated alicyclic ethers of formula ##STR2## wherein symbol R represents a lower alkyl radical and to the use thereof as perfuming and flavoring ingredients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The palette of perfumers and flavorists is constantly enriched by the discovers of novel active substances whose original characters enable the creation of new compositions or the replacement of more costly materials.

Among the variety of chemicals known in the art of perfumery, macrocyclic compounds are recognized as ingredients of choice. This class of derivatives include cyclopentadecanone (EXALTONE®), muscone or pentadecanolide (EXALTOLIDE®), which compounds are appreciated in the art for their particularly tenacious musky odor. Several derivatives of cyclododecane have also been described. For instance, the compounds of formula ##STR3## and of formula ##STR4## [see Pat. No. 443,536 and DE-OS No. 21 52 016, respectively] are utilized for the reconstitution of odorous notes of woody, cedar or amber type.

DE-AS No. 12 23 974 and UK Pat. No. 937,976 describe the utilization of the methyl esters of formula ##STR5## which compounds are characterized by a woody fragrance of rose type and of vetiver type, respectively. Other examples of woody type macrocyclic compounds include the unsaturated alicyclic derivatives of formula ##STR6## and their corresponding isomers [see Swiss Pat. No. 487,240 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,349].

Irrespective of the prior described perfume ingredients there was a constant need for perfumants having a woody character. We have discovered that the new unsaturated alicyclic compounds of formula ##STR7## wherein symbol R represents a lower alkyl radical, possessed useful organoleptic properties and consequently they could be advantageously used in the perfume and flavor industry.

When used as perfumants, compounds (I) are characterized by a tenacious woody scent reminiscent of the odor of patchouli.

The characteristic woody, patchouli note of the said compounds rarely becomes dominant and they can be advantageously utilized for the manufacture of chypre, rose, woody or fougere compositions, to which they confer harmony and richness.

Compounds (I) can be used for the preparation of perfumed products such as e.g. soaps, detergents, household materials or cosmetic preparations.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The proportions in which the compounds of the invention can produce the desired perfuming effects can vary within wide limits. Typically, for the manufacture of perfume compositions, these proportions are of about 1 to 30% by weight, occasionally they can be of 50% or even more for the preparation of perfume bases or perfume "coeurs". It has to be appreciated however that these concentration values are not deemed to be interpreted restrictively and values higher or lower than those indicated can also be used.

In the flavor field, compounds of formula (I) are characterized by a taste and an aroma which could be defined as woody and amber-like. They can advantageously be used in the manufacture of various artificial flavors and more particularly for the aromatization of tobacco or tobacco products to which they confer a woody and amber-like flavor reminiscent of the taste and aroma of oriental tobacco.

The nature, the solubility and the stability of compounds (I) determine the conditions for their utilization. They can be incorporated in the course of any step of the manufacture of the tobacco articles, preferably after the processes of aging, drying and cutting of tobacco leaves and before the manufacture of cigarettes.

The usual technique for tobacco aromatization consists in spraying the chosen mixture of tobaccos with a solution of the flavorants in ethanol or in a mixture of ethanol and propylene-glycol.

To this effect, proportions of the order of 1 to 500 ppm, (parts per million) preferably of 10 to 100 ppm, by weight based on the total weight of the aromatized material can be conveniently used. These proportions are set forth for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be interpreted restrictively.

The instant invention relates also to a process for the preparation of the compounds of formula (I) which consists in reacting, in the presence of an acid catalyst, 2,5,9-trimethyl-cyclododeca-1,5,9-triene with a hydroxylic compound of formula

    R--OH                                                      (II)

wherein symbol R designates a lower alkyl-radical.

The reaction is carried out in accordance with the usual techniques normally applied to the preparation of aliphatic ethers starting from olefins. Suitable acid catalysts include strong mineral or organic acids, e.g. sulfuric acid, p-toluene-sulfonic acid, or an acidic diatomaceous earth. The reaction can be effected in the presence of an inert organic solvent, or more frequently however, in the presence of an excess of hydroxylic compounds (II). Moreover, the reaction is carried out at a temperature ranging in the vicinity of the boiling point of the chosen reaction mixture.

Due to the presence of two olefinic double bonds in positions 4 and 8 of their molecule, the compounds of formula (I) resulting from the above described process can occur under different isomeric forms, and formula (I) generally designates any of said isomers.

2,5,9-Trimethyl-cyclododeca-1,5,9-triene used as starting material in the above described process is a commercially available material which results from the catalytic trimerization of isoprene.

The terms "lower alkyl radical" used throughout this specification is deemed to include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, ter-butyl.

The invention is further illustrated by, but not limited to, the following examples wherein the temperatures are indicated in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 1-Methoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene

340 g (1.67 M) of 2,5,9-trimethyl-cyclododeca-1,5,9-triene and 110 g of acidic diatomaceous earth in 5000 ml of methanol (containing less than 0.05% of water) were refluxed during 40 h. After cooling at room temperature and filtration, the mixture was concentrated at reduced pressure to yield, after a distillation, 366 g of a product having b.p. 79°-110°/0.01 Torr. After fractional distillation, 212 g of starting 2,5,9-trimethylcyclododeca-1,5,9-triene (b.p.43°-52°/0.1 Torr) and 140 g of the desired product, b.p. 78°-82°/0.01 Torr (yield 95% based on the converted starting material).

IR (film): 1470 cm⁻¹.

NMR: signals at 1.1, 1.6, 3.2 and 5.2 δ ppm.

MS: M⁺ =236 (11); m/e=221 (3), 204 (59), 189 (37), 175 (15), 161 (27), 147 (31), 133 (28), 121 (51), 107 (100), 93 (86), 85 (98), 67 (66), 55 (85), 41 (92).

EXAMPLE 2 1-Ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene

550 g (2.7 M) of 2,5,9-trimethyl-cyclododeca-1,5,9-triene and 380 g of acidic diatomaceous earth in 6250 ml of anhydrous ethanol were refluxed for 72 h to give, after the same treatment as that described in Example 1 above, 532 g of a product having b.p. 70°-110°/0.01 Torr. On fractional distillation, there were recovered 495 g of starting 2,5,9-trimethyl-cyclododeca-1,5,9-triene (b.p. 43°-52°/0.1 Torr) and 42.5 g of the desired product (b.p. 90°-105°/0.01 Torr); yield 63% based on the converted starting material.

IR (film): 1450 cm⁻¹.

NMR: signals at 3.4 and 5.2 δ ppm.

MS: M⁺ =250 (9); m/e=235 (6), 204 (44), 189 (21), 161 (29), 139 (98), 121 (34), 107 (59), 95 (68), 81 (72), 67 (50), 55 (67), 43 (100).

EXAMPLE 3

5 ml of 0.1% solution of 1-methoxy-1,4,8-trimethylcyclododeca-4,8-diene in 95% ethanol were sprayed onto 100 g of a tobacco mixture of "American blend" type. The tobacco thus flavored was then used for the manufacture of "test" cigarettes, the smoke of which was subjected to an organoleptic evaluation by a panel of flavor experts. The panel declared that the smoke of the "test" cigarettes, when compared with the "control" cigarettes, possessed an enhanced woody and amber-like note reminiscent of the taste and aroma of oriental tobacco.

By replacing, in the example above, 1-methoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene with an equivalent amount of 1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene, an analogous effect was observed.

EXAMPLE 4

A base perfume composition for Eau de Cologne was prepared by mixing the following ingredients (parts by weight):

    ______________________________________                                         Lemon oil         250                                                          Bergamot oil      300                                                          Orange oil        150                                                          Petitgrain Bigarade                                                                              100                                                          Neroli Bigarade    20                                                          Lavender oil       70                                                          White thyme oil    10                                                          ______________________________________                                    

By diluting the above base, in a proportion of 3% (by weight) in 95% ethanol, "classical" Eau de Cologne was obtained.

A novel composition was obtained by adding 0.25 g of 1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene to 100 g of the above Eau de Cologne. Its odor was more tenacious, rounder and more pleasant.

By replacing 1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene with an equal quantity of the corresponding 1-methoxy-derivative, similar effects were observed.

EXAMPLE 5

A base perfume composition of "wood" type was prepared by mixing the following ingredients (parts by weight):

    ______________________________________                                         1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-                                          4,8-diene                500                                                   Methyl dihydro-abietate  150                                                   p-ter-Butyl-cyclohexyl acetate                                                                          100                                                   α-Iso-methyl-ionone                                                                               100                                                   Absolute oak moss 10%*   30                                                    αPinene            30                                                    4-Methyl-4-phenyl-pent-2-yle acetate 10%*                                                               20                                                    Elemol                   20                                                    RHUBOFIX® (Firmenich SA).sup.(1)                                                                    10                                                    Acetaldehyde-phenylethyl propyl acetal                                                                  10                                                    β-Damascone 10%*    10                                                    AMBROX® (Firmenich SA).sup.(2) 1%*                                                                  10                                                    β-Damascenone 1%*   5                                                     Methyl-nonyl-acetaldehyde                                                                               5                                                     Total                    1000                                                  ______________________________________                                          in diethyl phthalate                                                           .sup.(1) mixture of 9(9,12epoxyethyl)-4- and 5-methyl-tricyclo                 [6.2.1.0.sup.2,7 ] undec4-ene [see e.g. Swiss Pat. No.                         .sup.(2) 3methyl-dodecahydro-6,6,9-trimethylnaphtho-(2,1) furane [see U.S      Pat. No. 3,029,255.                                                      

The thus prepared base was characterized by a strong and tenacious odour reminiscent of freshly cut wood.

EXAMPLE 6

A base perfume composition of "Fougere" type was prepared by mixing the following ingredients (parts by weight):

    ______________________________________                                         Lavandin oil         250                                                       Coumarin             80                                                        Synthetic geranium oil                                                                              80                                                        Absolute oak moss 50%*                                                                              80                                                        Benzyl benzoate      60                                                        Synthetic bergamot oil                                                                              50                                                        Rose wood oil of Brazil                                                                             50                                                        Terpenyl acetate     40                                                        Amyl salicylate      40                                                        Isobutyl benzoate    30                                                        Terpineol            20                                                        Aspic oil            20                                                        Clove oil            20                                                        Ambrette musk        10                                                        EXALTEX® (Firmenich SA)                                                                         10                                                        Galbanum resinoid    5                                                         MAYOL® (Firmenich SA).sup.(1)                                                                   5                                                         Total                800                                                       ______________________________________                                          *in diethyl phthalate                                                          .sup.(1) 4Isopropyl-cyclohexylmethanol [see Swiss Pat. No. 578,312.      

This Fougere type base, typically incorporated e.g. in toilet soaps, in characterized by the absence of woody perfumants such as cedar or patchouli oil. The woody character could be conferred by adding 20 g of 1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene to 80 g of the said base. The thus obtained composition possessed a richer and more harmonious scent and a slightly woody tonality.

By replacing, in the above example, 1-ethoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene by an identical amount of 1-methoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene, an analogous effect was observed.

EXAMPLE 7

1-Methoxy-1,4,8-trimethyl-cyclododeca-4,8-diene was used to perfume standard articles in the concentration given below. The stability and the color of the resulting perfumed articles on storage are indicated in the following table:

    ______________________________________                                                 Concentration Temperature                                                                               Performances                                  Article by weight     [°C.]                                                                              stab. color                                   ______________________________________                                         Eau de  5% in 95%                                                              Cologne ethanol       22         .sup. S/N*                                    Soap    0.5%          22         S                                                                   40         S                                             Talc      1%          22         S/N                                           Deodorizer                                                                             1.2%          22         S/N                                           Non-fatty                                                                      cream   0.4%          22         S/N                                           Shampoo 0.5%          22         S/N                                           ______________________________________                                          *S = stable                                                                    N = normal                                                                

What we claim is:
 1. Unsaturated alicyclic compounds of formula ##STR8## wherein symbol R represents a lower alkyl radical.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein symbol R represents a methyl radical.
 3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein symbol R represents an ethyl radical. 